Thursday, June 23, 2005

Wednesday's storms did not materialize and Thursday arrive partly cloudy and warm - in the mid 60's at 6:30 a.m. - and light winds. It took about 30 minutes for the caravan to reach the new site near the Iron Range grounds. The forecast was for temps in the 90's and preparations were being made at the new site to keep dogs cool.The test was a land/water quad with two shot flyers, two retired and 1 semi retired gun stations. The four were positioned around a pond that had a spring fed creek flowing into it from the right. The line was stationed an top a rise and faced the wider, left end of the pond. A line of undulating mounds transversed the field in front of the pond from near left to farther right. There were several decoys in the narrow right end of the pond. One set of guns was located deep to the left . They shot twice and threw a dead duck over the narrow creek to the left. It fell in medium/tall grass about 208 yards away. To the left and deeper, another set threw a dead duck to the left also. It fell at the base of a tree in the same type of cover about 225 yards out. again, to the left and considerably closer a set of three guns shot a flyer well ridden to the left. It landed in fairly tall grass . past a strip of orange flowers 130 yards from line. To the near left of the line, another set of guns shot a flyer nearly straight back into the pond where it splashed in the water only 70 yards out. The order was: Right middle long bird, left middle flyer, far right dead mark, close left flyer. As the dog was sent, the two right stations retired to trees behind them while the left middle ones sat down. A tree in front of them produced a semi retired effect.Several large water pans were placed in the holding blinds, and a tent installed over them. Another tent a short distance from line held a large kiddie pool filled with ice and shallow water - just in case....The test took a bit longer than usual so the test dogs were called to line about 8:00 a.m. Both handled on the test. A glum herd of handlers silently viewed the impending carnage and departed to prepare for it.The first dog, # 9 arrived on line at 8:34 only to get a no-bird (and mixed emotions probably). The undulating ground, water configuration, four marks, and two flyers - one close - really rattled the dog's marking concentration. The two right marks were especially difficult. The far one landed across the creek and those that arrived on the side were the gunners stood did not seem to want to cross it. Those arriving on the far side appeared to have difficulty winding it and, after a hunt, would threaten to switch to the middle, right on. A few handled OK, but others would not. Combined with the blistering heat, they might have been to hot to scent the bird. Since the lines between the left middle guns and right middle mark was tight some, when sent for the right middle mark, flared to the left or right to avoid the problem. A few continued on, deep of the RM bird and had to be handled, others either went back to the flyer or ran through it. Most recovered the flyers with minimal problems, but some had difficulty with the LM one. The series took about 10 minutes to complete. and the wind blew from left to right angling in, across the siteOf the first 14 running dogs there were 6 clean jobs, 6 pick-ups and 2 handles. Judges were winning this test!By mid morning the work improved and a number of good jobs occured in a sequence. Some handlers took the marks as two doubles, picking the left flyers first then the two retired marks. It did not seem to matter as far as success was concerned as training methods differ. Usually they selected the long, RM bird last.Feathers from the shot flyer drifted into and across the pond to the right. Later dogs appeared drawn to them and they could deflect them from their mark.By mid afternoon an announcement was made that this would be the only test for the day and that the raffle would be held at the Minnesota Iron Range clubhouse following the series. Also, callbacks would be posted later this evening a Headquarters. No info was given as to the first test on Friday nor starting time or dog number. However a water blind was the rumor.Callbacks came about 9:30 p.m. Thirty-nine remained for the seventh. Twenty had been lost, they were: 5, 8, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 27, 28, 29, 45, 51, 58, 62, 67, 81, 82, 94, and 109. Starting dog is #32. The test is a water blind (or 2) and will be held at Dave Furin's land. Caravan at 6:30; test dogs at 7:30; first running dog at 8 a.m.